Hutch-Essar Q3 revenue at Rs 2,800cr

Hutchison-Essar, the fourth largest cellular operator in the country, has posted Rs 2,800 crore in revenues during the quarter ended December 31, 2006. The financial numbers of the Hong Kong-based Hutchison Telecom's 67 per cent subsidiary are being revealed for the first time.

In February, when telecom giant Vodafone acquired 67 per cent stake in Hutch-Essar for $11.1 billion, the UK-based telecom company had stated that the acquisition was based on Hutch-Essar's performance.

According to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), the group's adjusted gross revenues (AGRs) stood at Rs 2,227.79 crore. The group paid a licence fee of Rs 192.48 crore and spectrum charges of Rs 97.82 crore.

THE INSIDE STORY
Circle (Rs crore)	Gross Revenues	Adjusted  Gross Revenues
Hutchison Essar Mobile (Delhi)	362.81	284.53
Hutchison-Essar (Mumbai)	494.82	352.09
Fascel (Gujarat)	415.23	328.21
Aircel Digilink (Rajasthan, Haryana & UP-East circles)	429.73	193.44
Hutchison Essar South (AP, Karnataka, Chennai, Punjab, West Bengal and UP-west)	718.83	606.37
Hutchison Telecom East (Kolkata)	140.19	122.59
Hutchison Essar Cellular (TN, Kerala, Maharashtra & Goa)	238	193
Total:- Hutchison-Essar Group	2,800	2,227.79

The group is divided into seven mobile firms. All the figures are provisional and were received after the financial analysis of the company.

The group, which operates its GSM services under the 'Hutch' brand, has a 21.78 per cent marketshare and a subscriber base of 2.75 crore in 16 circles. Hutchison Essar Mobile Services, which operates the Delhi circle, topped revenues posting Rs 362.81 crore and AGRs of Rs 284.53 crore, while Hutchison-Essar (operators of Mumbai circle) posted gross revenues of Rs 494.82 crore and AGRs of Rs 352.09 crore.

Fascel, the group's subsidiary that operates the Gujarat circle, recorded gross revenues of Rs 415.23 crore and AGRs of Rs 328.21 crore, while Aircel Digilink (operators of Rajasthan, Haryana and UP-East circles) posted gross revenues of Rs 429.73 crore and AGRs of Rs 193.44 crore.

The gross revenues of Hutchison Essar South (operators of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Chennai, Punjab, West Bengal and UP-west) stood at Rs 718.83 crore on AGRs of Rs 606.37 crore.

Hutchison Telecom East, the operators of Kolkata, posted gross revenues of Rs 140.19 crore on AGRs of Rs 122.59 crore, while that of Hutchison Essar Cellular stood at Rs 238 crore on AGRs of 193 crore.